Preparing properly for a blower door test ensures accurate results and helps avoid delays—especially when testing is required for HERS Ratings, Stretch Code compliance, or energy-efficiency incentives.
This guide walks you through how to prepare your home and what will happen during the test.
Before the Test: How to Prepare
Proper preparation helps ensure accurate and efficient testing. Homeowners and builders should ensure all exterior doors and windows are closed, interior doors are accessible, and wood stoves or fireplaces are shut off. Intentional openings such as bath fans, range hoods, and dryer vents should be sealed, and clear access to mechanical spaces should be provided. In some cases, combustion appliances may need to be turned off prior to testing to meet safety and testing requirements.
Learn more about blower door testing basics: What Is a Blower Door Test?
What Happens During the Test
Energy Geeks will:
- Install a blower door frame and fan
- Depressurize the home to –50 Pascals
- Measure leakage rates (ACH50 and CFM50)
- Identify major leakage points
- Record and verify test results
- Integrate findings into the HERS model if applicable
See how this testing fits into certification: The HERS Rating Process
After the Test: What You Receive
You will receive:
- A certified blower door report
- ACH50 and CFM50 results
- Recommendations for improvement opportunities
- Guidance for meeting MA & RI code requirements
Learn more about compliance thresholds: Blower Door Testing for Code Compliance